BURTON WAR MEMORIAL - by Kath Hayhurst

The Parish Council has recently arranged for our war memorial in the churchyard to be cleaned.

The following are extracts taken from the Westmorland Gazette dated November 20th, 1920

The cross was supplied at a cost of £240. It is on a square base rising by three steps to an octagonal block, on which the cross is mounted.

It is about 13 feet in height and made of Portland Stone (*1) and on a block are eight panels.

The front panel bears the inscription - PRO PATRIA AND IN HONOUR OF THE GALLANT MEN OF BURTON WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919, and on the panel facing west, ETERNAL HONOUR TO THE TRUE AND BRAVE WHO FOR THEIR NATIVE LAND THEIR LIFE HOOD GAVE. On the panel facing north - IN HONOUR OF THE MEN OF BURTON WHO SERVED ON MANY SEAS AND IN MANY LANDS IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919.


The dedication took place on Saturday (*2) afternoon. A procession was formed at the Market Cross headed by the church wardens and sidesmen followed by the choir, clergy, relatives of the fallen, Burton ex-servicemen numbering about 60, wreath bearers and parishioners.

They walked to the Parish church where a very impressive service was held by the vicar, Rev. R.W. Britton. The Rural Dean removed the flag, and dedicated the memorial, in place of the Bishop who was unable to attend. The vicar read the names of the fallen and after each name a wreath was laid. The same day the tablet on the west wall, inside the church, which cost £40, was dedicated, it bears the names of 15 men who gave their lives, of these 11 were killed on the frontiers, 2 died when on leave from France and 2 died in hospital.

The British Legion used to look after the memorial but as their numbers dwindled they asked the Parish Council to be responsible for it. A war memorial fund given to the P.C. was used as part-payment for the renovation this year.

(*1) It looks like sandstone!
(*2) 13th November, 1920.

Can anybody give more information?

Kath Hayhurst